We’re nine weeks in and some facts are becoming clear in the NFL. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers suck at football. Tom Brady is still very good at being a quarterback. J.J. Watt is mean. Still, in a league known for its parity, it would be foolish to assume much on a week-to-week basis. With that in mind, we’ve compiled some of the best experts’ picks ahead of Week 10 of the 2014 NFL season so you’re in the know when it comes times to make your bets.
For more on this week’s football action, check out our complete picks and predictions against the spread here. You can also check out our preview for Sunday Night Football’s Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers.
[sc:Football ]Expert Picks for NFL Week 10 of the 2014-15 Season
CBS Sports
| NFL Week 10 | Line | Pete Prisco | Jason La Canfora | Will Brinson | Josh Katzowitz | Ryan Wilson |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals | -6.5 CIN | Bengals | Browns | Browns | Browns | Bengals |
| Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | -0.5 TB | Falcons | Falcons | Buccaneers | Falcons | Buccaneers |
| Dallas Cowboys at Jacksonville Jaguars | +7.5 JAC | Cowboys | Cowboys | Jaguars | Cowboys | Cowboys |
| San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints | -4.5 NO | 49ers | Saints | 49ers | Saints | 49ers |
| Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Jets | +4.5 NYJ | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers |
| Tennessee Titans at Baltimore Ravens | -9.5 BAL | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Titans | Ravens |
| Miami Dolphins at Detroit Lions | -3.5 DET | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins | Lions | Lions |
| Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills | +1.5 BUF | Bills | Bills | Bills | Chiefs | Chiefs |
| Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders | +11.5 OAK | Broncos | Broncos | Raiders | Broncos | Raiders |
| St. Louis Rams at Arizona Cardinals | -7.5 ARI | Cardinals | Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams |
| New York Giants at Seattle Seahawks | -9.5 SEA | Giants | Giants | Giants | Seahawks | Seahawks |
| Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers | -7.5 GB | Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers |
| Carolina Panthers at Philadelphia Eagles | -6.5 PHI | Panthers | Eagles | Panthers | Eagles | Eagles |
CBS Sports’ panel of experts are split when it comes to picking the ATS winner in the Battle of Ohio. The stakes are high as a Cincinnati win would maintain the Bengals’ spot atop the AFC North, while a Cleveland win would give the Browns a joint lead with the Pittsburgh Steelers going into Pittsburgh’s game against the Jets.
[sc:NFL240banner ]Offensively, the Browns and Bengals are on opposite ends of the spectrum. The Bengals have thrived off their running game in the past two weeks with 302 yards and five touchdowns. Even losing lead back Giovani Bernard to an injured hip hasn’t slowed them down. Rookie running back Jeremy Hill was excellent in his first career start on Sunday with 154 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries.
The Browns have struggled to establish the run in their past two games. No. 1 running back Ben Tate has 29 rushing yards and a score on 25 carries in the last two weeks, which includes three yards on 10 carries against Tampa Bay on November 2. Backup Terrance West has fared better with 59 yards on 22 carries for an average of 2.7 yards per attempt. If the Browns fail to establish the run again, then they may find it difficult to move the chains in this game.
The Bengals are also an impressive 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 home games, which makes them an appealing pick at -6.5. Read our our complete preview for more on this intriguing divisional matchup.
Bleacher Report
| NFL Week 10 | Line | Pick |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals | -7 CIN | Bengals |
| Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Even | Falcons |
| Tennessee Titans at Baltimore Ravens | -10.5 BAL | Titans |
| Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Jets | +4.5 NYJ | Steelers |
| San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints | -4.5 NO | Saints |
| Dallas Cowboys at Jacksonville Jaguars | +7.5 JAC | Jaguars |
| Miami Dolphins at Detroit Lions | -2.5 DET | Lions |
| Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills | Even | Chiefs |
| Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders | +12.5 OAK | Broncos |
| New York Giants at Seattle Seahawks | -10 SEA | Giants |
| St. Louis Rams at Arizona Cardinals | -8 ARI | Cardinals |
| Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers | -8 GB | Packers |
| Carolina Panthers at Philadelphia Eagles | -7 PHI | Panthers |
Another divisional matchup in NFL Week 10 pits NFC North teams Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers against one another on Sunday Night Football. Bleacher Report predicts the Packers recreate their dominant win over the Bears in Week 4 to cover the eight-point spread.
The Packers also have one of the best pass defenses in the league, and have gotten to Bears quarterback Jay Cutler at will over the past three years. Cutler has thrown for 743 yards, six touchdowns and eight interceptions in games against Green Bay since 2012, all losses. Still, Cutler’s play may not matter much. Matt Forte has continued to be a bell cow for the Bears this year and brings his A-game against the Packers. He had 171 total yards against the Packers in Week 4.
Want to bank on Rodgers extending his excellent streak against the Bears? Take the Packers at -7.5 now. You can check the complete preview and prediction of this NFC North showdown here.
FOX Sports
| NFL Week 10 | Line | Pick |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals | -6.5 CIN | Browns |
| Tennessee Titans at Baltimore Ravens | -10.5 BAL | Titans |
| Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills | +1 BUF | Bills |
| Miami Dolphins at Detroit Lions | -2.5 DET | Dolphins |
| Dallas Cowboys at Jacksonville Jaguars | No Spread | Cowboys |
| San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints | -5 NO | 49ers |
| Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Jets | +4.5 NYJ | Steelers |
| Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Even | Falcons |
| Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders | +12.5 OAK | Broncos |
| St. Louis Rams at Arizona Cardinals | -8 ARI | Cardinals |
| New York Giants at Seattle Seahawks | -10.5 SEA | Giants |
| Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers | -8 GB | Bears |
| Carolina Panthers at Philadelphia Eagles | -7 PHI | Panthers |
FOX Sports used WhatIfSports’ simulation to predict the San Francisco 49ers to cover the spread against the New Orleans Saints, losing by just one point. Trends are also on their side as the 49ers are 4-0 ATS in their last four games against New Orleans, including 2-0 ATS with Colin Kaepernick behind center.
Kaepernick’s second-career start ended in a 31-21 win over the Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. He went 16 for 25 for 231 yards and a touchdown, while the 49ers also torched their NFC rivals for 144 yards on the ground. The 49ers quarterback would struggle in his next head-to-head matchup against the Saints going 17 for 31 for 127 yards and two touchdowns in 2013.
This season, the Saints’ secondary has allowed 268.4 passing yards per game, which may lead to Kaepernick wanting to test New Orleans’ pass defense. Most of those yards came from Matt Ryan, Matthew Stafford, Aaron Rodgers, though, who combine for an average of 275.7 yards per game. Kaepernick has passed for 245 yards per game this season.
For more on the 49ers vs. Saints game, check out our complete preview and prediction here.
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